“Indeed,” Variks stated. “He must be trained.” “I have my doubts he can receive conventional training,” Ikora interceded. “We don’t yet know how strong a bond a Ghost can form with a Cabal. Moreover, our Risen trainers here are not equipped nor can give the due singular attention Cerragus may require.” Solkis cocked his head. “Are you nominating yourself to be his mentor?” “No. But the one who trained me has incomparable experience, and I believe he’s running an intelligence operation on Venus.” Variks nodded. “Yes…Osiris. Very good choice. He has much knowledge we could use.” “Come to think of it, he may have information on the Hive that could help us on the Moon,” Solkis mused. “Fix two problems at once.” “Osiris’ expertise is in Vex, not Hive,” Ikora countered. “That’s why he moved his experiments to Venus to study their ruins, activities, and the Vault of Glass.” “Nevertheless, it would be good to reevaluate all the information we have on the Hive before forming a new plan of attack,” Trau’ug said. “We need to gather as much as we can before presenting a report to High Command tomorrow. Aru’un, I’d like you beside me to update them on the lunar front. They may have questions for you that I have not thought to ask. In the meantime, we need someone to grant special clearance to collect all the information we have from the Ice Breakers.” The Val nodded. “Understood.” “I’d be willing to investigate,” D’Ssoad offered. Solkis shook his head. “You are too far below rank to request information from possible superiors, even with our consent. However, Riksis, you could accompany him and perform the data collection with him.” Riksis bristled slightly. “You know I would do anything you desire unquestioningly, my Val, but Val Aru’un has offered us leave, so—” “You presume too much, [i]Centurion[/i],” Aru’un interrupted. “I gave the soldiers leave as respite from fighting Hive and their abominations. Officers get no such luxury. You and Lieutenant D’Ssoad will do as they say, and recruit a Bracus to get the information if you have to. Dismissed.” D’Ssoad saluted and Riksis stiffly followed before both turned and left the room. Ikora stepped forward. “If I may, sir, since I am here would it be possible—” Aru’un groaned inwardly. Stubborn woman. “Yes, yes, I already told you [i]I[/i] would address that. Wait outside until we’re through, Cerragus.” ************************************************************************************************************ “You enjoyed that, didn’t you, Lieutenant?” Riksis growled as soon as they were out of earshot of the guards. D’Ssoad had to admit, forcing Riksis to speak his language to understand him was a little satisfying. “What? I was just offering my services.” Riksis struck the corridor wall. “[i]While we are on leave?[/i] Where are your senses? Any subordinate could have been called to task!” D’Ssoad shrugged. “I didn’t have anything better to do.” “Really? No dwelling with a mate and urchins to visit? No friends to drink, relive glories, and mourn absent with?” “I’m not too keen getting into attachments during times of war. I don’t have time to grieve and I don’t want anyone to be pained at my death. I just want to fight the war until it’s done.” “Bah!” Riksis scoffed. “You [i]are[/i] like our Cabal overlords. Dull, shortsighted, and a dutiful soldier until an end of fire and steel.” “I’d mind what you say out loud about them,” D’Ssoad warned as they wove back along the same route they took with Aru’un. “If I’m that boring, then why do you put up with me?” “Your concern in my welfare is touching. Marginally,” Riksis yawned. “You bore me, but not every waking moment. Your constant attempts to go over my head and challenge my authority relieves the doldrums of command.” D’Ssoad smiled on the inside. “I haven’t been insubordinate.” “Not officially,” Riksis purred. “But somehow your desires end up superseding my orders.” “Not intentionally.” Riksis’ eyes narrowed dangerously. “Exactly. Only accidentally, yes? Hear me now, if too many ‘accidents’ persist you won’t bore me anymore, you will irritate me, and nothing in the Cabal’s war manual prevents me from executing disobedient officers and adding their skulls to my collection.” The Eliksni’s death threat didn’t scare him. His superior officer gave them out too often to be effective. They reentered the hangar bay only to walk past all the vehicles, heading toward a wide docking bridge that connected to the Ketch outside. A slight breeze billowed around them as they crossed the bridge and stepped onto the Ketch’s extended landing deck. Most of the creatures on the deck were Psions and Eliksni of the former House of Winter, who got incorporated into the Ice Breakers’ spy network. They were the forefront in gathering information on the enemy, and if they didn’t know it themselves, they knew how to find out. D’Ssoad had elicited their services before, and knew who to look for. Part of the deck ramped up into a small hangar inside the Ketch, where even more ships were docked for repair and refuel. Unlike the Stronghold’s hangar, though, this bay was also filled with several computer terminals of human, Eliksni, and Cabal design. At the far end of the bay was the engineers’ cargo hold, where parts and supplies for maintenance were stored. It was in a constant state of disarray from the numerous items that had to be pulled off the shelves, restacked, and then unsuccessfully returned only to end up as piles on the floor. Today, it was unnaturally quiet, which made D’Ssoad a little concerned. “Hello?” One of the piles of junk shuddered as a Ghost extricated himself from the heap. “Hello! Hi! Sorry, I was just giving my servers a rest. A lot of inventory moves in and out of here. What can I—” The Ghost stopped when he recognized the man. “Peter! Long time no see!” “[i]Peter?[/i]” Riksis repeated mockingly. “Hey, Caesar,” D’Ssoad ignored. “Just need some information. Is [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/226647634?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=0]Echo[/url] around?” “Yeah, I think so. He went in the back with a couple of Eliksni. Follow me.” Caesar led them through the forest of shelves to a small clearing with a pair of worktables with parts scattered over the surfaces. An Exo in gray and red armor was picking at an Exni’s arm with several small tools while a smaller Eliksni poked around and examined things on the shelves. “Echo! We have company,” Caesar announced before dematerializing inside the Light Master’s armor. The Exo glanced up from his work and smiled. “Peter! It’s been a while. I was starting to worry you might have died on that damned moon.” “It certainly hasn’t been easy, I can tell you that much,” D’Ssoad agreed. He noticed the Eliksni he was with bore Sol Legion insignias. “Though I think you’ve seen a little bit of that firsthand, correct?” Echo nodded, turning back to repairing the Exni’s arm. “Too right. These fellows have just been back from a rare victory in Schrödinger Crater.” “Really?” D’Ssoad asked, turning to the Exni. “We were two of the commanding officers there. How are you holding up, uh…?” “Farvilkas, sir,” the Exni answered, looking at D’Ssoad with red optics. “Just a scratch. Nothing severe.” He gestured with a free hand to the other Eliksni. “My companion goes by Ax. New recruit. I don’t think he made it into the fight.” “Not this time,” the other Eliksni replied absent-mindedly, still looking at random devices. Echo wrenched something out of Farvilkas’ arm with a large pair of tweezers. “Ooh! Hive fang. Nasty little thing. Glad we got that out when we did. Caesar, keep that in a safe place until I can examine it.” “You’re still preforming insane experiments?” D’Ssoad questioned. “Mock me if you like, Lieutenant, but I’ve already explained to research and development the benefits of equipping Interceptors with sub-orbital engines. But right now, I’ve been looking into soldier augmentations.” This caught Farvilkas’ and Ax’s attention. “What?” they asked simultaneously. Echo waved them off. “Don’t whine. I’ve been ordered to get express and written consent from all my subjects before implementing.” [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Groups/Post?groupId=1371758&postId=244991280&sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]